Maggie Johnson

Maggie Johnson was a resident of rural Georgia during the mid-20th century. The daughter of Mama Johnson and the sister of Dee Johnson, she suffered severe burns during a house fire when she was young, leaving her insecure. In 1967, Dee left the family to go to college, and she did not return for six years; Maggie lived with her mother in a poor, traditional rural home. In 1973, Maggie became engaged to John Thomas, who worked at a local store, and her mother promised to give her the family's heirloom quilts once Thomas saved up enough money to buy her a ring and marry her. That same year, Dee came home under the new name "Wangero", bringing her husband Hakeem-a-barber, and she attempted to take the quilts for display at her new home, saying that Maggie would probably be dull enough to put them out for everyday use. However, their mother refused to give away the quilts which would soon be Maggie's, as Maggie would appreciate them as family treasures rather than use them as Africana artifacts.